Semisubmergible vessel.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

's. LAKE. SEMISUBMERGIBLE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 1901- NO MODEL.

Iatented September 8, 190 3 PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON LAKE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

SEMISUBMERGIBLE VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,206, dated Septem e1 8, 1903.

Application filed June 12, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semisubmergible Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus designed more especially for performing submarine operations either at or upon the water-bed or intermediate the surface and water-bed; and it has for its object to provide convenient means for inspection of or operation upon objects beneath the surface and adapted to be disposed closely adjacent thereto for the purpose, to furnish means for supplying the necessary apparatus to divers at work upon such submerged objects, and to actually sustain divers engaged in such work in cases wherein their support above the water-bed is necessary.

To this end the invention comprises a vessel having at one end a water-ballast compartment or compartments with means for controlling the contents thereof and at the other end means for access thereto upon the upper side, whereby the vessel may have its waterballastcd end portion maintained in a buoyant condition for traveling upon the surface or may have it submerged to any desired depth (limited only by its length) for the purposes of inspection or active submarine work upon exteriorsubmergedobjects,accessbeingmaintained continuously from the exterior above the surface of the water through a suitable door or hatch. This vessel is preferably employed as an auxiliary to a primarywrecking vessel maintained upon the surface and furnishing the power required for actuating apparatus carried by the auxiliary vessel to which it is attached by a separable flexible connection, permitting the vessels to assume the different angular relations required for the operations for which this composite or seetional vessel which they together form is designed. 7

The invention further includes certain details of construction and arrangement of apparatus which will be specifically described, and pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is Serial'No. 64,219. (No model.)

a plan of a sectional vessel embodying my present improvement, showing the general arrangement of parts and the manner in which the same is moored for actual operation. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation of the same, illustrating the internal construction and arrangement of the auxiliary vessel and its contained apparatus in operative relation in full lines and indicating it also in dotted lines in its surface position astern of the primary vessel by which it is towed or propelled. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3- 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. a is a similar view upon line 4 4 of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The primary boat (I, is shown of the ordinary surface -vessel type, driven by twin screws b and adapted to be steered by twin rudders 0, both propelling and steering members being operated in the usual manner. The steam-boiler d supplies the necessary power through steam-pipes e and f for driving the engine g, coupled to the dynamo h, and the engine 2', driving the air-pumpj, respectively.

The rearward portion of the primary vessel (L is provided with a recess 71) to receive the narrower forward end of the auxiliary vessel 1, having the lateral horizontal pintles or trunnions 2, entering the upwardly-open sockets m, provided with the bearings 71, disposed upon the oppositeedges of the recess 70, there by providing between the sections a and 1 a flexible pivotal connection whose members are separable by the lowering of the former or elevation of the latter in the water in order to render said sections detachable when required.

The auxiliary vessel 1 has at the upper side of its forward end a hatchway 3, which is permanently above the surface of the Water rcgardless of the position of the vessel, such hatchway being preferably provided with the hatch 4, by which it may be closed when desired. The vessel is provided with a longitudinal series of relatively independent waterballast tanks or compartments 5 6 7 8 9 l0 and terminates at the opposite end from the hatchway in a divers chamber or compartment 11, (disposed above the Water-ballast tank 5,) communicating with the interior compartment 13 through the air-lock 12, having doors 11 and 15 opening, respectively, intoupon the primary vessel (1.

the compartments 11 and 13 in the usual manner to provide for ingress and egress between the divers compartment and the interior of the vessel. The floor of the compartment 11, as well as that portion of the vessels bottom beneath it, is made of polygonal form, and two wells 16, with outwardly-opening hinged bottom doors 17, are provided therein to afford convenient means of egress and ingress between the compartment 11 and the exterior of the vessel under all conditions of inclination of the latter from its normal horizontal or surface relation.

A bearing wheel or roller 18, journaled in suitable bearings upon thebottom of the stern portion of the vessel 1, is provided, upon which the lower end of the boat may rest when submerged sufficiently to touch the bottom, thus aifording stability for the actuation of any apparatus which may be carried thereby for performing external operations and maintainin g the bottom of the end portion to which it is attached sufficiently above the water-bed to permit the doors 17 to be opened for the convenient passage of the divers into and out of the compartment 11'.

The interior compartment 13 may be and is herein shown as continuous from thehatchway 3 to the air-lock 12, being provided upon the upper end and floor with ladders 19 and 20, respectively, to enable the occupants to easily pass freely from one end to the other in any degree of inclination of the vessel 1.

Each of the several water-ballast compart ments is provided with a water-inlet pipe connecting it with the exterior of the vessel and controlled by a valve 21, whereby water may be admitted to such compartments to determine the depression of the divers compartment beneath the surface, the usual air-outlet valves being provided for the discharge of the air displaced thereby, and the water is expelled by means of the pump 22, driven by the electric motor 23, whose terminals are connected with electrical conductors 24, leading upwardly and forwardly along-the supporting air-supply pipe 25 to the dynamo h The hydraulic pump 22 is provided with a discharge pipe 26, leading to the exterior of the vessel, and with an inlet-pipe 27, having'a three-way valve 28, from which branches lead, respectively, into the compartment 5, beneath the diving compartment and the lower compartment 6 of the series adjacent thereto, the other compartments, 7 S 9 10, of the series having connections controlled by the valves 29,

by which they may be brought successively into communication each with the adjacent section or sections and also with the compartment 6, from which their contents may be drawn to vary the buoyancy of the boat when required, the usual air-vent valves being provided to permit the inflow of air from the interior to replace the water ballast removed by the pump 22.

As the interior compartment 13 is or may be continuously in communication with the exterior of the vessel above the surface of the water, it is obvious that no special apparatus is required for supplying it with air; but inasmuch as the divers compartment is designed to be opened to the exterior under water-pressures varying with its depth of submergenee it, as well as the divers helmet 30, must be supplied with air under pressure, which may be furnished by the air-pumpj through its flexible connection 0 with the pipe 25, havinga connection with the air-lock controlled by the valve 31 and a similar connection with the interior of the compartment 11 and the divers helmet 30, controlled by a valve 32 of suitable character. The doors let and 15, leading from the air-lock into the divers compartment and the interior of the vessel, respectively, are provided with the customary air-valves for permitting the equalization of air-pressures in such adjacent compartments in the usual way to afford temporary communication between the same while the boat is in operation.

It is needless to say that in lieu of the means just described for decreasing or destroying the buoyancy of the structure adjacent to the divers chamber or compartment to cause the latter to sink as desired such operation may be effected mechanically by the use of a permanent or a portable anchor and tackle attached to the same and to the part to be submerged, in which case the entire structure may be permanently buoyant.

In certain operations, as in the scrubbing of ships bottoms and sides or in effecting repairs beneath the water-line, it is desirable that the divers so employed should have a suitable support, as well as power-driven tools or apparatus for performing the mechanical part of the work. The power required for such operations will be readily seen to be afforded by both the electrical conductors 2i and the compressed-air-supply pipe 25, to which such tools or other apparatus may be easily connected by means of suitable flexible coupling devices, so as to be carried or otherwise manipulated by the operator, while the diver may take up his position for the purpose upon the upper platform afiorded by the top 33 of the divers compartment having the guard 3% or upon the projecting edge of a swinging platform 35, somewhat wider than the divers compartment and sustained by a supporting-hanger 36, depending from the pivotal bearing-studs 37, as indicated in Fig. 4, wherein the diver is shown at work in scouring the side of a ship at a point beneath the surface. In this operation it is obvious that the position of the diving-compartment or the platform upon which the diver stands when at work may be adjusted by the suitable manipulation of the water-ballast in the tanks or compartments provided therefor.

Vhile it is obviously desirable to subdivide the water-ballast space into a series of tanks or compartments, as illustrated in the IIC annexed drawings, in order toprcvcnt the shifting of the water-ballast to an injurious extent, the subdivision of this space is not essen tial, as a single water-ballast compartment adjacent to the stern portion or that having the diving-compartment being sufficient to perform the function of the series of compartments herein disclosed.

In the ordinary operation of the composite vessel itis anchored, preferably, by means of cables p, extending outwardly from a forward windlass q upon the primary vessel over the bow upon both quarters and additional cables '2', extending from the stern-windlasses 8 rearwardly through guides 25 upon the auxiliary vessel outwardly and sternwardly from both quarters in order to insure the maintenance of both sections in a fixed relation and prevent their shifting under changing conditions of the weather and water.

In case it should prove desirable to detach the auxiliary trailing vessel from the primary vessel to enable the latter to make an independent trip for supplies or for other purposes it is necessary merely to unlock and remove the upper brasses n of the trunnionbearings and suitably manipulate the waterballast to withdraw the trunnions 2 upwardly out of the sockets m, and thereby uncouple the two sections. By this means the provision of a power supply, as a compressed-air tank or a series of storage batteries, in the auxiliary vessel will enable it to continue its operations independently of the presence of the primary vessel, such power-storage receptacles or reservoirs affording the requisite power for manipulating the water-ballast and for operating the tools or apparatus required in the performance of its normal functions lVhile the present improvement is designed more particularly for employment under conditions requiring the services of a diver to work exterior to the vessel, and the latter is therefore provided with a divers compartment having doors communicating with the exterior, it is to be understood that a vessel of this general character is of value for purposes of inspection of submarine work or of scientific research and that the invention is not, therefore, limitedto avesselhavin g means of communication with the exterior beneath the surface of the water, nor is it necessary that the primary boat be employed for furnishing power for the handling of the auxiliary vessel and the manipulation of the apparatus with which it is or may be equipped, as the design of such vessel and its equipment and the uses for which it is intended will determine as to whether or not it shall form a part only of a composite or sectional vessel, such as is shown and described herein, for which reason the present improvement is obviously not limited to this feature.

It is evident that the precise nature of the tubular connection between the divers coinpartment or chamber and the surfacevessel above the latters water-line is not amaterial part of the present invention, as any suitable form of connection possessing the required flexibility for permitting the divers compartment to assume different angular relations with the surface vessel will serve the purpose of the intermediate length of the vessel 1 in affording surface communication with the divers compartmenawhile preservingtheinitial distance between the same and the surface vessel for its submergence to moderate depths of rivers and harbors, for which the presentimprovement is particularly designed.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the distinguishing characteristic of the present invention is the adaptability of the structure to maintain one end permanently at the surface of the water, while the opposite end is caused to descend to such depth beneath the surface as the conditions under which it is employed may require, whether the sinking of the submergible end may be effected by hydraulic or mechanical means.

lVhat I claim is- 1. A vessel having one end constructed and adapted to float permanently at the surface of the water and the opposite end normally buoyant but provided with means whereby it may be caused to sink beneath the surface.

2. A vessel having one end constructed and adapted to be maintained permanently buoyant and the opposite end provided with a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling its contents to establish or destroy buoyancy.

3. A vessel constructed and adapted to be maintained permanently buoyant at one end and provided'with means for access thereto above the waterline, and having the other end provided with a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling its contents.

at. A vessel-having one end adapted and constructed to be maintained permanently at the surface of the water and provided at or near the other end with a divers compartment having doors communicating, respectively, with the exterior and interior of said vessel, an ad j acent water-ballast compartment, and means whereby water may be admitted to or expelled from said water-ballast compartment.

5. A vessel provided at or near one of its ends with a divers chamber or compartment having doors communicating, respectively, with the exterior and interior of said vessel, an adjacent Water-ballast compartment and means whereby water may be admitted to or expelled from said water-ballast compartment for raising or lowering said end and thereby varying the inclination of the vessel relative to the normal water -line, and means for establishing communication between the interior of said vessel at its upper end and the exterior of the same above the water-line while the connection, one of said sections being provided with a water-ballast compartment and,

means for controlling its contents.

7. A sectional vessel comprising a primary vessel or section and an auxiliary vessel or section attached thereto by a horizontalpivotal connection,the latter being provided with a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling its contents and with means for access to its interior adjacent to said primary vessel or section.

8. A sectional vessel comprising a primary surface vessel or section and an auxiliary vessel or section attached thereto by a detachable horizontal pivotal connection, the latter being provided with a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling its contents and with means for access to its interior adjacent to said primary vessel or section.

9. A sectional vessel comprising a primary surface vessel or section provided with means for propelling and steering the same, and a trailing auxiliary vessel or section attached thereto at one end by a flexible connection and provided at the opposite end with a divers compartment and an adjacent water-ballast compartment with means for controlling the contents of the latter.

' 10. The combination with a primary vessel provided with means for propelling and steering the same and with means for generating or otherwise furnishing power,of an auxiliary trailing vessel attached thereto by a flexible connection and provided with a divers compartment and adjacent water-ballast compartment, a water-inlet for admitting Water to said ballast-compartment, a hydraulic pump and amotor for actuating the same within said auxiliary vessel for expelling the water from said ballast-compartment, and aconnection from said motor to said power-generator upon said primary surface vessel.

11. A vessel provided at or near one of its ends at the top with means for access thereto above the normal water-line, and at the other end with a divers chamber or compartment, a series of Water-ballast compartments extending longitudinally thereof from said divers compartment and means for admitting water thereto from the exterior of said vessel,means for establishing communication between said water-ballast compartments, and means for discharging the contents of said water-ballast compartments from a point adjacent said divers compartment.

12. A vessel provided at or near one of its ends at the top with means for access thereto above the normal water-line and at the other end with a divers chamber or compartment, a series of water-ballast compartments extending longitudinally thereof from said divers compartment and means for admitting water thereto from the exterior of said vessel, means for establishing communication be tween each water-ballast compartment and those adjacent thereto, a hydraulic pump 'isazos' having its inlet in the water-ballast compartment of the series adjacent the divers compartment,and means for actuating said pump.

13. A vessel provided at or near one end at the top with means for access thereto from above the normal water-line and at the other end with a divers compartment, a water-ballast compartment beneath said divers conipartment, a series of water-ballast compartments extending from said first-mentioned ballast-compartment toward the opposite end of the said vessel, a hydraulic pump having a valved inlet with branches connected with said first-named ballast-compartment and the adjacent ballast-compartment, means for actuating said pump, water-inlets for each of said ballast-compartments, and valved connections for establishing communication between eachballast-compartment of said series and the adjacent compartment or compartments thereof.

14. The combination with a vessel having one end maintained permanently above the surface of the water and provided with means of access thereto and having at the other end a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling the contents of the same, of a swinging platform depending from said waterballasted end of said vessel.

15. The combination with a vessel having one end maintained permanently above the surface of the water and provided with means of access thereto and having at the other end a divers compartment with doors communicating, respectively, with the exterior and interior of said vessel and adjacent water-ballast compartments with means for controlling their contents, of a swinging platform of greater width than said divers compartment depending externally therefrom and adapted to sustain a diver outside of said divers compartment. I

16. The combination with a primary surface vessel provided with means f or propelling andsteering it and having a recess or housing formed in the stern portion thereof, of an auxiliary trailing vessel whose forward end is adapted to enter said recess or housing and provided with lateral horizontal trunnions having bearings in said primary surface vessel adjacent said recess or housing, said auxiliary vessel having at its rearward end'a water-ballast compartment and means for controlling its contents.

17. Avessel constructed with one end permanently buoyant and the other end normally buoyant but provided with means for varying its buoyancy.

18. The combination with a surface vessel, of a divers compartment, adjacent air-lock and water-ballast compartments and means for controlling the contents of said water-ballast compartment, and a flexible tubular connection between said divers compartment through the air-lock compartment to said surface vessel above the latters water-line.

[0 to and from the same at its buoyant end, and

means for effecting the submergence of said chamber or compartment.

Signed at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, this (3th day of June, A. D. 1901.

SIMON LAKE.

itnesses:

HENRY A. KORNEMANN, HENRY J. MILLER. 

